Hundreds sign petition against Ga. college merger

MARIETTA, Ga. (AP) -- More than 1,000 people have signed a petition on Change.org against a proposal to merge two metro Atlanta universities.

The University System of Georgia announced late last week that the Board of Regents plans to merge Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta with Kennesaw State University.

SPSU students say the merger is a bad idea because their school's atmosphere wouldn't mix well with that of Kennesaw State's. They say students would lose the advantages of attending a more tight-knit, niche institution.

Kennesaw State University president Dan Papp says the quality of education offered by SPSU won't be compromised in the merger. KSU is Georgia's third-largest university, and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The Marietta Daily Journal reports the plan would have to be approved by January 2015.

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